Display apparatus



April 18, 1950 c. w. FREEMAN 2,504,313

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

CLUD W FREE/M4N ATTORNEY C. W. FREEMAN DISPLAY APPARATUS April 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2l, 1947 INVENTOR. C/aud W. Freman A 'I' TORNE Y Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanical display devices and more particularly to apparatus for exhibiting dance steps for educational, advertising and other purposes.

The principal object of the invention is to pro vide an automatic display device which is at once a medium for training a novice in the art of dancing and a display device finding usefulness in advertising various services and merchandise such as schools of dance, phonograph records and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism consisting of a housing, in the top of which is formed one or more slots of unbroken continuity defining areas of trangular or circular shapes and through which slots protrude pins carried by chains, belts or arms, each or all of which are actuated by mechanism in the housing for Acausing the pins to follow said slots. By virtue of objects attached to the pins, such as simulated shoe soles or superimposed figures in a dancing pose, animation of these objects attracts attention of a sort calculated to afford amusement or to instruct one in the performance of certain dance steps.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the housing of a device constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the housing with the top removed to show the mechanism therein.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts in vertical section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the housing of the modified form of the invention, with parts of the tcp cut away.

Figure '7 is a fragmentaryv sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive wherein Ill denotes a housing of any suitable external shape, having a flat top II. The top II has two continuous slots l2 therein, each defining a triangular area I3 whose longest sides are confronting.

Centrally disposed in the housing l0 is a verti cal shaft I4 on which is mounted a gear I5 whose teeth are arranged in peripheral segments I6. The gear I5 is caused to revolve by a motor Il' and a shaft I8 and conventional worm gearing, Ita. (Figure 5) which rotates the center shaft It. A s the gear I5 revolves', the toothed segments I6 come into successive engagement with pinions lill, mounted on individual Shafts 20, such engagement between the segments I6 and pinions I9 being alternate for purposes to be explained presently.

Triangularly spaced within the housing l0 but shown as depending from the tops I I thereof are stub shafts 2l, each of which carries a sprocket wheel 22. A chain 23 surrounds each triangular group of sprocket wheels, the leads of the chains lying immediately below the slots I2 in the top II of the housing.

Attached in spaced relationship to the chains 23 by means of clevises 24 are L-shaped pins 25, the latter being turned upwardly to extend through the slots I2 of the top II. To operate the chains 23V through the sprocket assembly described, a gear 26 is mounted on each of the shafts 2D immediately -above the pinions IS, each such sprocket being disposed within the confines of its respective chain which it drives by engagement of its teeth with one lead thereof.

Mounted on each of the pins 25 of which there are two, is an object 21, simulating the sole of a foot or shoe and representing the right and left foot.

In operation, the motor I1 eects rotation of the segmental gear I5 causing its segments I5 to be brought into mesh with one and then the other of the pinions I9. The resulting action will be that the sprocket 26 will cause the chains 23 to move alternately, displacing the pins 25 in the slots I2 and consequently moving the simulated feet 21, the degree of such movement being determined by the number of teeth in each segment I of the gear I5.

It is the purpose of the described arrangement to move rstone foot member 21 and then the other to ycause them to simulate steps in dancing. For example, the foot at the right in Figure 2 will first be moved from position 1 to position 3 at whichl'atter position there is Va pause, occasioned by the gear segment lIB passing off the pinion I9 which operates this particular foot. Another gear segment will then engage the companion pinion I9, whereupon the left foot will be moved from position 2 to position 4. There is a pause while the right foot moves from position 3 to positionf5, following which the left foot is brought from position fl to position 6.

The position of the feet 21 as shown in solid lines in Figure 2 is the starting position from which the foregoing steps may be said to originate but it is obvious that there are no restrictions other than the limitations presented by the slots I2 and operating means of the feet as to the movement of the latter.

While only one is shown, there are three audible signals for the operating range of each foot 21. The fsignalr. maywbefin the ffornr of a.bell 28 having alstrikerarm 29 which extends voutwardly and upwardly through the slot l2 in the path of the foot member 21. reaches the end of each period of travel,.it enf gages an arm 29, displacing the same against 'the displacement of a spring 30, the vlattery compelling the striking end of the arm against the bell.

In order that the feet 21 YWillremain'in the same plane as they travel about the triangular area I3, plates 3I are arranged at each return angle ofthe triangle againstwhich the feet are brought, causing ..them.t be oriented lproperly into their original plane..

Referring vnow' to Figures 6 and 7 inclusive,.the same result described inthe foregoing is sought but isaccomplished vin a slightly different manner. In this form ofthe invention the saine characters are used to identify corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive but unrelated parts will bear new references.

The housing I0 vhasin its top Il, continuous slots. I2 deningsubstantially triangular areas I3.' A center shaft I4'is disposed in the housing and a segmental gearV I iis mounted on the shaft I4 having. segments I6 vof predetermined length and spacing.,

A motor I1 drives a shaft .I8,.tl1e.1atter in1turn, rotating the center. shaft :I4 lthrough. suitable gearing. IB'a. Rotation of theshaft I4 .causes the gear I 5 to.revolve,. bringing. .the .gear ysegments, I 6 thereof into periodic-and alternate engagement with pinions I9.disposed diametrically.. opposite on each side of .the gear.l5 .to effect intermittent and alternate rotation ofthese pinions..

Attached tothe shafts-.20. at..each ,end is a tubular member 32,-against which bears a. plunger 34,Av an arm. 35 .extends outwardly friomthe plunger Whose outer. end isturned .upwardly through a slot .-I2. A simulated foot 21 is attached .to the vertical portion of the arnr35 land, .by virtue of the orienting plates 3I at each angle of the Vtri angular area. I3, the. feet 21 are caused..to maintain their original planes as they pass around thesaid areas..I3..

Asin the preceding-` instance,..the.segmental gear I5. causes they pinions to revolve. intermittently.and;at each. partial-.revolution which occurs .alternatelybetween the pinions, the arms 35 are constrained to.follow theslots. I2 and.. in so. doing, move the feet 21. The.` feet Z1, whose displacement is determined. bythe length and spacing ofthe toothed Asegments of .the gear I5, are. causedfto. assume .positions..of. certain steps. in dancingfor. purposes of. instruction :or in the.` case.. of advertising.. display, to.. attract As each foot member:

6 attention.4 Also,..as. in the. precedinginstance,

signals. 28 are disposed :at eachanglefofithe triangular areas. I3 to. denotethe. termination of movement. of.l the: feet. in .proper sequence.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be Within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A display apparatus including a housing having a top provided with continuous slots dening separate areas of predetermined shape, a vertical shaft disposed centrally in said housing, a gear on said shaft having circumferentially spaced groups of gear teeth, a stub shaft disposed within each of the areas defined by said slots, a

pinion on each of said stub shafts with which thegroupsofteeth of said gear alternately engage to effect intermittent rotation thereof, a large vsprocket oneach of said stub shafts, a group lofxsmall sprockets spaced about each of said latter sprockets, a chain on each group of sprockets .underlying each of said slotsand driven by said largesprocket, a pin. carried vby each of sadchainsand extending, through a respective slot in said housing top and display ,means car ried by each of saidpins andalternately actuated thereby to exemplify a. pattern. of 1 dance steps.

2. vDisplay apparatus .for exemplifying steps in dancing, comprising ahousingv having .atop provided with continuous slots defining. separate areas of a predetermined shape, a flexible element below. and. inregister. with.each .of said slots, a pin on each.ilexibleelement-and extending` through a slot, adisplay object carried .by each pin. and adapted to.-be..alternately moved to simulate dance steps, means ,foractuatingeach of said flexible elements, saidmeanscomprising a. gear havingy circumferentially spaced gear teeth, a .pinion intermittently. rotated .by said gearand. means operated .by said pinion .for imparting.. intermittent` motion, to said flexible element.

3. Display apparatusfor. exemplifying. dance steps comprising. a housing having, atop. having continuous. slotsdeiiningseparate areas.` of a predetermined shape, display.v means, extending through said. slotsand adapted to be.inter mittently-and. alternately moved-.to` simulatesteps in dancing, means for. actuating said latter .means comprising a segmental gear. disposedcentrally in said housing, a pinion Within the confines of eachzofsaid slots andengageable. bythe teeth of said gearto effect intermittentand alternate rotation of said..pinionsand.means forg transmitting. the motion ofsaid pnionsgto said display means..

CLAUD W. FREEMAN'.

REFERENCES CITED The following.#references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

